Capitol Ministries

11 history C apitol Ministries was established for one purpose: to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the political arena throughout the world. is mission may seem to be a common-sense objective; it certainly was during the founding years in America history. But aer the incur- sive and faux-Christian "social justice" Social Gospel period of American church history, Bible-believing Evangelicals backed away from missions to and among political leaders. For this and other reasons, some pas- tors even pronounced government as evil and coun- seled believers against any involvement in politics. As a result, political leaders, who had historically been embraced by the church and had counted many pas- tors among them, became a forgotten and neglected mission field. Paradoxically, at the same time, the Religious Right movement was born. Christians began to form organizations to lobby legislators for better laws rather than evangelizing and discipling pub- lic servants to create better hearts. Not surprisingly, the United States suffered continuing moral decline. Ralph and Danielle began discussing this problem on their second date. Danielle served as the executive director of a successful politi- cal action committee that helped Christians become elected to office in California. But once elected, over and over again, these Christians public servants failed to vote in keeping with the convictions they pro- fessed to hold. As a former professional athlete, Ralph was the director of America's trade organization for various and many sports ministries. He was very familiar with America's sports ministry move- ment that planted ministries to athletes in high schools, col- leges, and on professional sports teams. Ralph had person- ally benefitted from one of Campus Crusade for Christ's ministries, Athletes in Action (AIA), on the UCLA campus where he played for two national championship teams under legendary coach John Wooden. Aer grad- uating, Ralph postponed a professional career to play basketball for AIA, a Christian evangelistic basketball team that traveled the world playing national teams and sharing their Christian testimonies at halimes. As they lingered over coffee on their second date, Ralph and Danielle discussed their mutual frustration of weak-kneed Christian politicians. e problem wasn't so much getting Christians elected as much as it was the public ser- vant's failure to show Christian maturity, act on their convictions, and display courage aer they were in office. e sports ministry model dried into the conversation, and the couple had an epiphany—what was needed was a discipleship ministries for public servants in office similar to those established for athletes! ey immediately realized that idea—evangelizing and discipling public servants—was what was being overlooked by the Religious Right movement. At that moment, their prayerful vision was to establish ministries at all levels of gov- ernment in the United States and in foreign nations and, through a steady diet of the Word of God, make disciples of Jesus Christ in the political arena throughout the world. at idea took root aer they

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